Serving-table



F. P. MAIN.

SERVING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1920.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. P. MAIN.

' SERVING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED Mums. 1920.

7 1 ,353,66@; 'PatentedSept. 21,1920,

2 SHEFTS-SHEET 2.

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warren stares? PATIENT owner. 4

FREDRIGK P. MAINQOF CLEVELAND, OHIQ.

SERVING-TABLE. v

, T all whom it concern Be it known that I, FREDRIOK. P. MAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in serving Tables and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. r V

This inventionrelates to a serving table, and one object is to provide an article of the type indicated which shall be especially useful in serving food to invalids, and which shall include a side or end supporting element adapted to swing inwardly from operative position, providing clearance, whereby the table may be moved into position so that the upper portion thereof will extend transversely over a bed, or the like, and permit a person to readily partake of food without inconvenience, or without assuming an unnatural position.

A further object is to provide a table of the character indicated which shall include a, base portion, an upper structure permanently secured by one end supporting element, and secured by an oppositely located supporting element, the latter being adapted to swing inwardly from operative positionthat is from a vertical position, when in use, so that clearance will be provided, for the purpose indicated.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table,

Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation, with the swinging element in a horizontal position, s: Fig. 3 is an end view of the table with its top in vertical section Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views showlng the construction of the hinge joint,

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the locking device for retaining the swinging element in a vertical position.

The base portion of the table includes side members 10 and 12 and end members 13 and 14, these elements, and the other frame members being formed if desired of tubular material and finished in white Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept; 21, 192() Application filed Mai-ch18, 1920. Serial No. 366,770.

enamel. Thefootv portions 15, 16, 1 7 and 18 serve to mount ball bearing casters, and

transverse braces 21 and 22" may connect the opposite side members of the brace.

Upper horizontal members 24 and 25 are formed integrally with the vertical end members 26 and 27, and thelatter are connected by a transverse brace 28. Upper transverse braces 29and 30 servean obvious purpose. The top 31 is of about the pro-portions shown and is secured to the elements 24 and 25 in any suitable manner; The apron 33 extends downwardly beneath the end portions of the top, as illustrated.

The swinging element comprises uprights 35 and 36 which may be of tubing, and will V be so formed if the other structural elements of the frame correspond, or are formed of tubular material. Elements 35 and 36 are connected by transverse braces 37 and 38, and have .connection with the elements 39 and 40 of the hinge joint, these elements being pivotally connected at 41.

The members 35 and 36 have threaded connection with the members of the hinge joint, and when the swinging member is in a vertical position the appearance of this section of the table corresponds substantially with that of the other end section.

Spring held latches 43 and 44 are mounted within the upper end of elements 35 and 36, and these latches have beveled end portions, entering the openings 48 and 49 in downwardly extending portions 24 and 25 of the elements of the top, or more definitely the upper portion of the frame work. It will therefore be observed that I have formed a frame of arch construction, and that the top is firmly supported not only when the swinging member is in a vertical position, but also when. that member is in a horizontal position, the support in the latter instance being confined to the structure of one end of the table. Connected with each latch is a stem 51 provided with a suitable handle 52 of rubber or the like.

Rubber bumpers or stops 55 are mounted in the position indicated.

It is obvious that while I have described the table in considerable detail, I may make such alterations or additions, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a table, a base portionand a structure carried thereby and comprising a plurality of arch-shaped frame members, and

the center of the arch, the other side elements and the horizontal elements of r the arch members being fixed rigidly with relation to the base portion.

2. In a table, a plurality of frame memb'ers'of' arch construction, a top supported thereby, a base portion with which" said arch members are connected, each arch member including one upwardly extending element mounted to swing inwardly toward the center ofth e arch, and spring held engaging devices for retaining said swinging element in vertical position under normal conditions.

3. A table comprising'a frame oftubular construction, a top mounted on the frame, an apron'extending downwardly from each endof the top and over the upper portion of the frame,;said frame including a base and supporting means therefor, a. plurality of arch shaped elements each having an upper member and a downwardly extending member permanently connected with the base, and each including a swinging element adapted to assume either a horizontal or a vertical position, each swinging member having a beveled end portion for engagement with a beveled portion formed on each upper member of the frame, a spring held latch-mounted in the upper end of each swinging'member; andmeans for releasing the latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresen'ce of two witnesses.

' FREDRICK P. MAIN. Witnesses:

THOMAS C. MILLER, Jn, GEORGE E. MIDDLETON; 

